LAKKI MARWAT: The district administration launched an operation against encroachments in Bannu city on Friday.

“The operation was initiated on the instructions of newly-posted deputy commissioner Shah Saud,” an official said, adding traders had occupied the roadsides in the bazaars, hindering smooth traffic flow.

“The shopkeepers were repeatedly warned to remove encroachments, but to no avail,” he maintained.

The official said the anti-encroachment squad of tehsil municipal administration and traffic police removed encroachments with the help of heavy machinery.

Tehsil municipal officer Mohammad Yousaf Khan supervised the operation.

He said encroachers were also fined and warned of action if they again occupied roadsides.

Meanwhile, Bannu city council chairman Irfan Durrani has said all available resources will be used for provision of natural gas to the remaining areas of the district.

Talking to a delegation of local body members on Friday, he said just distribution of funds among all village and neighbourhood councils would be ensured.

On the occasion, Malik Ayub Janan Wazir, Malik Raza Mohammad Khan, Ezaj Khan, Mohammad Ayub Khan and others said their areas were in dire need of funds for uplift works.

They also demanded expediting efforts for provision of gas facility to their localities.

Mr Durrani, who is affiliated with JUI-F, said the southern district was deprived of its due share in uplift funds in the previous PTI governments.

“We have completed our homework for provision of gas facility to the remaining areas, and work

on laying of the pipeline will start as and when the federal government approved the project,“ he claimed.

Also on Friday, deputy commissioner Shah Saud chaired a meeting to review progress of the ongoing polio campaign.

Officials of local administration, health department and partner organisations were in attendance. Matters pertaining to achieving the targets were discussed.

Mr Saud said integrated efforts were required to eradicate the disease causing lifelong paralysis to children.

He called upon the officials to ensure vaccination of the targeted population against polio.

In a separate development, district chapter of Al-Khidmat foundation handed over a consignment of lifesaving medicines to the management of Bannu central jail on Friday.

The jail’s deputy superintendent Motasim Billah received the medicines from AKF district president Mohammad Jalal Advocate at a ceremony held on the premises of the prison.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2023